Using Aliases in AutoLookup

[pinkpanther]

I'm looking for some pointers on building an AutoLookup that will also
allow aliases to be entered.

As an example:
I want to enter a part description and retrieve the appropriate data
for that part. I have this piece working if I enter the exact part
(i.e. Tire, Front, Left).

However I would also like to be able to enter an alias for the part
description (i.e. Tire, Left, Front; Front Left Tire; or Left Front
Tire). But any of these should revert back to the exact part
description of Tire, Front, Left. Basically an AutoLookup within an
AutoLookup.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, except enter the exact part
every time. This is a multi-user app. and you can’t get everyone to
enter the exact part every time.

TIA,
Larry

 

[Jack Cannon]

There may be an alternative to this but the only way that I can think of is
to use an alias table that lists every possible alias in one field and the
actual filter term in the second field.

Another possible solution to the same problem is not to use an alias
mechanism but instead use an Incremental Search mechanism.

Jack Cannon

 

[Paul Shapiro]

You could search for parts containing each word in the search term, but that
may still miss parts if someone uses different words. Or return a list of
all parts that contain any of the search words.

You could also do lookups by categorizing the parts. If 1-3 levels of
selection would get a manageable list of parts, that can work well. For an
example, lookup memory modules at crucial.com. First you select the
manufacturer from a dropdown list, which pulls up a dropdown list of product
types. When you select the product type, the 3rd dropdown fills with the
product list.

You could offer multiple types of search. When someone knows the part name
it's convenient to get it easily. When they don't know the name, it's
convenient to narrow the search.